Electrolytic alternating-current rectifier.



A S. HIGKLEYH ELECTROLYTIC ALTERNATING CURRENT RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1908.

maemedl Jan 1911 To all whom it may concern:

U ITED s'rATEs PATENTOFFICE;

ARTHUR s. HICKLEY, or MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY, assreivon To comeELECTRICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

ELECTROLYTIC ALTEBNA'rmG-GURRENT "RECTIF ER,

,Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. HIoKnn'Y,

' a subject of the King of'Great Britain, re-

siding at Manasquan, in the county of Moir.

mouth and State of New Jersey, have-invented certain new and usefulImprove ject the maintenance of formation, that is,

the retention of the hydroxid ofaluminium upon the active electrode whendirect current is not being used.- In using electrolytic rectifiers inthe ordinary way, there is an appreciable time necessary for theformation of the hydroxid before the cell will rectify, but this whenonce formed, it a small the cell flow of current is maintained, keepsactive and ready for instant work. It often happens thatthe timeconsumed in forming the hydroxid isgreater than can be allowed "and evena small reverse current would. be

fatal to the successful operation of certain instruments tion.

111 ordinary requiring direct current excitapractice, when alternatingcurrent is rectified to direct current by inis dissolved, or passes off,and upon againclosing the circuit, alternating current passesfor a shorttime, until the hydroxid is formed and rectification again takes place,and direct currentis obtainable. One way to correct this, has been toconnect a cell or number of cells of the accumulator type across thedirect current terminals, when sufficient current passesto keep thesecells charged and at the same time maintain the acting properties in therectifier. That is however not only expensive when a large number ofcells are required, as is the case on high voltage, but the current usedto keep the cells charged is considerable. Furthermore, it isdetrimental to the cells to continue to pass currentthrough them afterSpecification of Letters ma. Application filed June 2 6-,'1908 SerialNo. 440,503.

tery', arc-light, X ray apparatus or thelike,

Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

they are charged. It is my purpose to overcome both ofthese-'difiiculties and objections.

The rectifier of my'construction is always in an active conditionandgready to work the instant it is required to deliver direct current.Such a small amount of current is passed when no. direct current isbeing drawn that it is negligible To accomplish .these ends,- I connecttwo rectifiers, or one rectifier made double, so that one rectifier actsin opposition to the other,v that is to say, although the current couldpass through the one, it would be impeded by the other. But if anyapparatus, such as a motor, batis"connected so as to spanone of thesecells, the current which is impeded by that cell passes through thisapparatus and the other a cell does the rectifying.

' The invention consists in certain improve ments, which will be fullydisclosed in the following specification and claims. I In theaccompanying drawings, whichi'or'm part of this specification:-Figure' 1represents a top plan view of my improved rectifier'flin which two cellsare electrically connected in opposition'to each other, the non-activeelectrodes being connected respectively to the alternating current mainlines. Fig. 2a like view in which the active.

electrodes are connected to the alternating. current main lines. F g. 3a hke view of a are connected together electrically and me.- chanically,the active electrodes in each cell connected respectively to thealternating current main lines. Fig. l a like view in which one doublecell and. two single cells are shown, thetwo active electrodes of thesingle cells connected to the alternating current main lines and thenon-active electrodes of the single cells connected to the active"electrodes of the double cells respectively.

. Reference being had to the drawings and the designating charactersthereon, the numerals 1, 2 indicate the main-lines respectively of analternating circuit, 3, 3 indicate the cells for containing a suitableelecmodified construction, in which the two cells trolyte, such asphosphate :of. soda, and said I Each cell 3 is provided with an activeelectrode 5, preferably of aluminium or one of its alloys and cell 3 isprovided with an electrode 5, and these electrodes are electricallyconnected together by awire 6. The cells 3, 3 and the hollow members 1are made of iron or its equivalent, and each cell is connected to themain lines 1, 2 respectively by wires 7 and 7, as shown in Fig. 1.

8 indicates a motor or other electrical device, connected through wire9, switch 10, wire 11 and wire 6", with the active electrodes 5 and 5,and wires 12 and 7 connecting with main wire 2.

\Vhen the switch-1Q is open, as shown, current from the main line 1 hasa path through wire 7 to cell 3, to electrode 5, through wire (3, toelectrode .5, where it is practically stopped by the formation ofhydroxid of aluminium on the electrode 5. \Vhen the reverse impulsefromline 2 endeavors to pass through thefpath 7, cell 3, electrode 5 andwire 6, it is stopped by the hydroxid of aluminium formed on theelectrode 5 in the cell 3, thus there is practically no passage ofeither impulse. On closing switch 10, a path is provided from line 1,through wires 7, cell 3, electrode 5, wire 9, switch 10, wire 11,electrical device 8, wires 12 and 7 to main line 2, thereby operatingthe electrical device 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the main lines 1, and 2are connected to the two active electrodes, instead of to the non-activeelectrodes as in Fig. 1. This is preferable for the reason that there isless liability to leakage to the ground, as the two main lines arepractically insulated by the formation of hydroxid of aluminium on thetwo active electrodes to which'they are con-' nected.

In Fig. 2 the non-active electrodes or hollow members 4 are connected bywire 6; in

Fig. 3 a continuous mechanicalconnection is made between the two cells3, 3 by a con: tinuous hollow member 4.

It is obvious that supplemental non-active over one hundred and fortvolts; when the two sets of cells connecte in series act. as two valves,one set on each main line, but are connected together in electricalopposition as inthe foregoing figures.

In the several forms shown, the cell which is spanned by the electricaldevice also acts as a condenser, tending to eliminate any reversecurrent which may be present and pro duces a smoother flow of directcurrent than;

is ordinarily obtained.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. v Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claim is- '1. The combinationof electrolytic elements connected in opposition and a circuitelementsof like polarity.

2.- The combination of electrolytic elements connected in opposition'and a circuit provided with translating devices bridging elements oflike polarity, and means for .making and breaking said circuit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR S. HICKLEY.

\Vitnesses D. (I. Rumorin, \V. Inuurn RniNouL. t

provided with translating devices bridging

